The
WORD today reminds me of God’s infinite wisdom.
There are prestigious award
giving bodies in existence today. These institutions look for greatness before
awarding people - either whose work has impacted a lot of people, or those who
have discovered great things. We look up especially to those who discover
things and answers that impact and help a lot of people. In the gospel, we see
something similar happening to Jesus.
In the gospel, people were trying
to trap and make fun Jesus. The Sadducees, who do not believe in the
resurrection, presents Jesus with a hypothetical scenario. They want to prove a
point that there really is no resurrection, as opposed to what Jesus was
saying. They wanted to prove that there could possibly be no resurrection where
a woman will be wife of seven men, because based on the law, that’s what was
supposed to happen. That situation does not make sense. They also want to
discredit Jesus from the increasing number of people who are beginning to take
notice of him. They want to embarrass and humiliate Jesus. They thought
they had Jesus cornered because they quoted the law which Jesus would not go
against. They
thought Jesus would not know the answer to their question, and people would see
they they are smarter than Jesus. And they could prove the point that there
really is no resurrection. We then see how great God is.
God's
wisdom is infinite.
We see and realize that Jesus is really God in human form. We see his
wisdom by his answer, answer that others could not think of or could not
explain. Jesus tells them upfront that they are misled. They did not understand
the resurrection. It is NOT a continuation of life on earth. In the
resurrection, we will be like angels. We will be spiritual beings. We will
not be bound by time and space. We will not have the human relationships we had
here on earth. Yes there will be love, as God is love, but not earthly
love.
Just as the Sadducees quoted
Moses in their question, to prove his point and his wisdom, Jesus also quoted
Moses in explaining and answering them. Some people believed at that time that
immortality was connected with the existence of the physical body. Thus, the
Sadducees did not believe that the patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob still
exist or are immortal. Jesus quotes the Scripture – I AM the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This means He is
the Present and living God. And that these people are alive, that
they are resurrected, thus the present tense. God did not say I WAS the God. I AM the God means HE is still alive until now,
that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are also alive in their resurrection until now,
and that he is the same God who guided Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
God is a
God of the living, not of the dead. And he is alive until now.
We see how infinite God's
wisdom is. In seemingly impossible situations, Jesus not not escapes, but
glorifies God. He corrected the wrong notion of the sadducees, and explained
how powerful and loving God is
God’s wisdom is infinite. In
the first reading, we saw that King Antiochus may have had his way. It seems
that he had his ways. However, God is wise, and his perfect time will come. His
wisdom sees what is going to happen, so we just need to trust in Him.
We are asked to live a holy life not according to our
standards and through our efforts, but through the grace of God. As
we remember to live a life based on God’s grace, we will remember to give him
back all the honor, glory and praise. We strengthen our faith not for our
benefit, but for God’s work and his people, as we allow ourselves to be used by
God to proclaim his kingdom. And that just as Jesus escaped the trap set by the
Sadducees, we too can experience that if we remain close to God and bask in his
word, presence and glory.
Do I believe that God is living
and present here in this world? Am I living my life like he is present and
living in me? Do I always focus on Him, his love and power, as I
work to give him glory and serve Him? How can I make God more alive and living
to the people I interact with?
May we always remember that God
is alive, and think of a way we can make him more alive through us today!
Father
God,
Thank you
for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend.
Thank you for another inspiring message. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you
that you are a living God. Thank you that you are always with me during times
of troubles and persecution. Lord, sorry for the times I forget. Sorry for
doubting you. Help me remember your love and greatness especially when times
are tough. you are there with me even if I don’t always feel it. May I never
forget all that you have done for me and my loved ones. May I always have
that faith in you, and live my life in honor and glory of you – the one true
living God. Help me build and work on my relationship with you. And I ask
that you use me to make your love more real and more alive to others. Amen.
Blessed
Weekend!
In
Christ,
-g-
November 23 2019
«
Saturday
of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 502
Reading 1 1 MC 6:1-13
As
King Antiochus was traversing the inland provinces,
he heard that in Persia there was a city called Elymais,
famous for its wealth in silver and gold,
and that its temple was very rich,
containing gold helmets, breastplates, and weapons
left there by Alexander, son of Philip,
king of Macedon, the first king of the Greeks.
He went therefore and tried to capture and pillage the city.
But he could not do so,
because his plan became known to the people of the city
who rose up in battle against him.
So he retreated and in great dismay withdrew from there
to return to Babylon.
While he was in Persia, a messenger brought him news
that the armies sent into the land of Judah had been put to flight;
that Lysias had gone at first with a strong army
and been driven back by the children of Israel;
that they had grown strong
by reason of the arms, men, and abundant possessions
taken from the armies they had destroyed;
that they had pulled down the Abomination
which he had built upon the altar in Jerusalem;
and that they had surrounded with high walls
both the sanctuary, as it had been before,
and his city of Beth-zur.
When the king heard this news,
he was struck with fear and very much shaken.
Sick with grief because his designs had failed, he took to his bed.
There he remained many days, overwhelmed with sorrow,
for he knew he was going to die.
So he called in all his Friends and said to them:
"Sleep has departed from my eyes,
for my heart is sinking with anxiety.
I said to myself: 'Into what tribulation have I come,
and in what floods of sorrow am I now!
Yet I was kindly and beloved in my rule.'
But I now recall the evils I did in Jerusalem,
when I carried away all the vessels of gold and silver
that were in it, and for no cause
gave orders that the inhabitants of Judah be destroyed.
I know that this is why these evils have overtaken me;
and now I am dying, in bitter grief, in a foreign land."
he heard that in Persia there was a city called Elymais,
famous for its wealth in silver and gold,
and that its temple was very rich,
containing gold helmets, breastplates, and weapons
left there by Alexander, son of Philip,
king of Macedon, the first king of the Greeks.
He went therefore and tried to capture and pillage the city.
But he could not do so,
because his plan became known to the people of the city
who rose up in battle against him.
So he retreated and in great dismay withdrew from there
to return to Babylon.
While he was in Persia, a messenger brought him news
that the armies sent into the land of Judah had been put to flight;
that Lysias had gone at first with a strong army
and been driven back by the children of Israel;
that they had grown strong
by reason of the arms, men, and abundant possessions
taken from the armies they had destroyed;
that they had pulled down the Abomination
which he had built upon the altar in Jerusalem;
and that they had surrounded with high walls
both the sanctuary, as it had been before,
and his city of Beth-zur.
When the king heard this news,
he was struck with fear and very much shaken.
Sick with grief because his designs had failed, he took to his bed.
There he remained many days, overwhelmed with sorrow,
for he knew he was going to die.
So he called in all his Friends and said to them:
"Sleep has departed from my eyes,
for my heart is sinking with anxiety.
I said to myself: 'Into what tribulation have I come,
and in what floods of sorrow am I now!
Yet I was kindly and beloved in my rule.'
But I now recall the evils I did in Jerusalem,
when I carried away all the vessels of gold and silver
that were in it, and for no cause
gave orders that the inhabitants of Judah be destroyed.
I know that this is why these evils have overtaken me;
and now I am dying, in bitter grief, in a foreign land."
Responsorial Psalm PS 9:2-3, 4 AND 6, 16 AND 19
R.
(see 16a) I will rejoice in your
salvation, O Lord.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will declare all your wondrous deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, Most High.
R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.
Because my enemies are turned back,
overthrown and destroyed before you.
You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
their name you blotted out forever and ever.
R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.
The nations are sunk in the pit they have made;
in the snare they set, their foot is caught.
For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
nor shall the hope of the afflicted forever perish.
R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will declare all your wondrous deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, Most High.
R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.
Because my enemies are turned back,
overthrown and destroyed before you.
You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
their name you blotted out forever and ever.
R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.
The nations are sunk in the pit they have made;
in the snare they set, their foot is caught.
For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
nor shall the hope of the afflicted forever perish.
R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.
Alleluia SEE 2 TM 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 20:27-40
Some
Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,
came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,
"Teacher, Moses wrote for us,
If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child,
his brother must take the wife
and raise up descendants for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers;
the first married a woman but died childless.
Then the second and the third married her,
and likewise all the seven died childless.
Finally the woman also died.
Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be?
For all seven had been married to her."
Jesus said to them,
"The children of this age marry and remarry;
but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age
and to the resurrection of the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
They can no longer die,
for they are like angels;
and they are the children of God
because they are the ones who will rise.
That the dead will rise
even Moses made known in the passage about the bush,
when he called 'Lord'
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
and he is not God of the dead, but of the living,
for to him all are alive."
Some of the scribes said in reply,
"Teacher, you have answered well."
And they no longer dared to ask him anything.
came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,
"Teacher, Moses wrote for us,
If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child,
his brother must take the wife
and raise up descendants for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers;
the first married a woman but died childless.
Then the second and the third married her,
and likewise all the seven died childless.
Finally the woman also died.
Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be?
For all seven had been married to her."
Jesus said to them,
"The children of this age marry and remarry;
but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age
and to the resurrection of the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
They can no longer die,
for they are like angels;
and they are the children of God
because they are the ones who will rise.
That the dead will rise
even Moses made known in the passage about the bush,
when he called 'Lord'
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
and he is not God of the dead, but of the living,
for to him all are alive."
Some of the scribes said in reply,
"Teacher, you have answered well."
And they no longer dared to ask him anything.
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